jestevens

By the reviews alone these tires look like they could potentially be good too.. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=PureContact+with+EcoPlus+Technology&partnum=25VR7PURECXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=2013&autoModel=C-MAX%20Hybrid&autoModClar=SEL

Until you mentioned "tire noise" I hadn't even considered it so I guess it must be pretty good..not like the Goodrich Traction T/A I used to run in my HHR. I think overall they are a very nice tire, the only thing seems to be that my MPG gauge is "stuck" at 40MPG all the time..if I drive hard it might get down to 38MPG for a short while but I have to work hard to even get a few tenths over 40MPG. I typically run tires at 40PSI, I guess the max rating is 51PSI. I just had my 50,000mi service done and they measured the tread at 6/32 all around for 17K miles of use so I guess I really must have been enjoying them. Needless to say I don't think I'll have to worry about the 70,000mi service life warranty expiring. Other folks on tire rack have also noted that they don't seem to live up to the lifetime mileage claim. The other tire I used to use on my Prius was the Bridgestone Ecopia 422, they seemed fine as well, maybe a little more noise. I am willing to bet that from what others say that OEM tire is probably the best one for C-MAX as far as balancing wear, MPG, etc.

I did this for the last update (3.8?), my theory was they they seem to keep the vehicle/engine controls seperate from infotainment computer so I thought it would be okay. It's a little funky but it does work. Before you start the update make sure there are no other USB flash drives plugged in, just the one with the sync update; when it is done you will probably need to pair your cell phone with sync again. I drove to the store and left the car running (in ready mode) while I did some shopping - by the time I got back it was almost done. I was able to shut the doors (horn chirp because the engine is running and the fob is outside the car) and lock the car using the key fob, although the response to fob button press seemed sluggish.

If your tires are worn I don't blame you, any tire with tread is better than one without I suppose. I ended up buying these - and I felt they were good in the winter for Central PA last year (not much snow yet this year) - bear in mind we measure snow in inches instead of feet and most of my travels are paved/don't include really steep hills. In the snow they were just a little slippery first starting out until they "bit into" the snow - then they were great... http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=Cinturato+P7+All+Season+Plus&partnum=25VR7CP7ASP&GCID=C13674x012-tire&KEYWORD=tires.jsp_Pirelli_Cinturato_P7_All_Season_Plus_Tire&code=yes&srccode=cii_10043468&cpncode=36-151547787-2 Not the cheapest tire, not the most expensive..a local shop was willing to give me a discount. I don't hypermile and still average 40MPG. I am not sure I'm going to get anywhere near the rated life out of them and because of that and protentially higher MPG will probably save up and go back to OEMs once these are done.

Hybrids must have low rolling resistance tires. One time I had standard tires put on my prius without thinking too much about it and within 15 minutes of driving I was right back at the tire place begging them to change them out. That nice glide/coasting ability that hybrids have once you get them up to speed comes from the LRR tire. Using regular tires everything in the drivetrain has to work harder and you lose a big part of the MPG advantage. As fbov suggested tire rack makes it easy to select LRR search option so you can compare.. I will only say that when these tires are up, I'll probably go back to the OEM tire, I tried a different manufacturer LRR tire from Pirelli, and the grip was improved, nice in the winter but I still think I'm losing MPG vs. what I would be getting with the OEM tires.

After the update was complete i had to re-pair the bluetooth connection between my phone and SYNC..for whatever reason the update seems to clear the previous bluetooth connection information so you have to set it up again. I went through the other menu settings too but the bluetooth one seemed to the only one that was erased.

No problem with GPS on the main display but for the last two days on the small display to the right side of the speedometer after I start the engine I get "Navigation Fault, see touchscreen for more information" - about 5-10 seconds later it seems to update that display to show the compass and the street name from the GPS data as it always has in the past. (I have the small display set to show navigation data).

I saw that the "emergency response directions" specifically mention the PTC as a part of what is wired into the high voltage wiring in the Energi but no such mention for the hybrid so that makes sense.

If it is like the Prius it uses the ICE as the main heat source and PTC heaters for supplemental electric heat. I saw some references to PTC heater parts when I did a google search. I don't know about the energi, that might have a different setup. http://www.processtechnology.com/pdf/SmartOnearticle.pdf The Prius also had independently controlled HVAC vents for interior vs. exterior air and the different heat sources that seemed more sophisticated than your typical gasoline car, I don't know if C-MAX has that setup but it would make sense if it did to try to improve warm-up times.

It works relatively like the prius, so typically within the first seven seconds of being in "Ready" mode the ICE is probably going to start to "prove" the engine and warm up the catalytic converter. It needs to prove the engine can start, otherwise you'd eventually run out of HVB and not be able to charge..Catalytic converter has to be hot enough to handle emissions. The car probably has PTC electric heater but if there is more than a few degrees difference it will start the ICE to generate lots of heat. If you have the touch screen you can touch the little leaf looking icon near the bottom center to see where the energy is being used. The car works optimally after about a 20 minute drive.. Someone mentioned about the HVB ambient temperature - I have heard a good rule of thumb is that if you are uncomfortable in the passenger compartment because it is too hot or cold then the HVB will also be "uncomfortable" too - as in potentially shorten its life. I think one thing C-MAX doesn't have that the Prius has is a thermally insulated coolant storage tank - Toyota stores some warm coolant in here and use electromechanically actuated valves to isolate or add the coolant to engine .. it helps shorten engine warm up time in the prius for as long as the coolant in the tank can stay warm (about 2 hours). Even in the wintertime, if I'm getting 34MPG that was much better than my HHR's 22-25MPG

We had some of the original 2010 Fusion Hybrids, and the Escape Hybrid here at work, quite frankly I was not that impressed considering the hybrid versions didn't get that much more MPG and were significantly more expensive. The C-MAX was the first hybrid that really seemed to use some of the cross-licensed Toyota tech, but Ford somehow managed to make the performance of the C-MAX much nicer (I test drove a Prius V and it was sooo sluggish). The panoramic roof was a nice option that is hard to find on cars less than $30K..It was the first one that really seemed like a true hybrid to me - enough to make me want to buy one when the price dropped below $24K. I had a Prius, and as far as I'm concerned the hatchback is still one of the best sedans out there, smooth, quiet, relatively powerful, no other 87 octane car can get 49-50MPG.. Using Li-on batteries was a risk Toyota didn't want to take because the NiMh batteries seemed safer, and more reliable - they did a lot of things like using AGM battery instead of liquid battery, to try to make things safer in a crash. Even so in 15 years of Prius being on the road people are just now starting to trust the battery packs so maybe Toyota didn't want to take that risk without more testing. Li-on batteries can explode violently if not built and maintained properly (look at the knock offs in the news lately and the Dreamliner airplane).. So yeah it's a risk, but using those packs Ford was able to equip a much bigger vehicle, provide better performance and use EV more aggressively than Toyota. I guess that risk is part of buying the car. At least they are covering some of the faults with recalls. Even with all of the TSBs I still like my C-MAX, wish Ford would market them more aggressively but I am seeing more of them on the road now anyway.

You can do vehicle health report using just a paired cell phone, no sync services required. It appears to use your cell phone to dial an 800 number and transmit the vehicle data ala "modem" like an "old" dial up connection. I guess it's possible they could be getting updated sync version info from the vehicle health report data but I don't know for sure. The other feature I saw with the new update is that apparently now you can mute the spoken nav guidance.

Yes, I selected the correct XML file but for whatever reason the code on the webpage didn't seem to do anything with the XML file after I selected it. I was expecting the page to refresh or something to indicate the log file was received. It just sat there at "Select File" as if that step wasn't done. I'm going to ignore the problem for now. I went through all the screens in the new version and other than reorganizing a few buttons/menus I'm not sure there's any new functionality that is pertenent to my needs..Visually it all looks pretty much the same as the last release as far as I can tell. Perhaps they improved support for some newer phones or phone features that don't apply in my situation - I don't use an iPhone so I guess I'm missing the big reason to update. Still, if they are offering it for free why not.. I'll have to see if NAV response time is any faster next time I make a long trip. My vehicle health report now shows that I have a brake system issue and it shows the wrong mileage until my next service. I checked the brake fluid and it's fine, and no brake indicator lights on the dash so I'm assuming that it's a problem with the software that generates the report. The last time I ran the report was after a 20 minute drive so I'm sure the engine was on long enough. No way to really see the % oil life remaining without a scan tool but I think it can't be more than 200 miles until my next oil change at the dealer anyway.

I have outstanding recall for emissions (hoping to get all the TSBs done at next oil change) and I was still offered the upgrade. I did the 3.8 Gen 2 upgrade through Ford Owner site yesterday. I had a second USB stick plugged in which caused a bit of consternation (so I guess when you do the upgrade be sure to only have the USB with the sync image plugged in and your map card if you have Nav). It upgraded fine in about 15-20 minutes..I was even able to use the key FOB to lock the car while engine was running (although the BCM seemed slow to respond to the lock command) and go run a quick errand inside a store.. I had to re-pair my phone and re-enable 911 Assist. Figured it would be safe to ride around while the upgrade was happening since they keep the engine controls seperate from the "infotainment" computer. I am having a problem uploading the XML file at the end of the process - I guess because I am using firefox on Linux - I browse for and select the XML file but then nothing happens. This happened last time I updated MFT as well - Can't remember how I resolved it last time..maybe I borrowed a windows PC or the "reminder" Email had a different link in it. . Haven't really had a chance to investigate the new software yet, I see they reorganized some of the menus, added more support for different wireless/internet connection methods and changing tracks in audio from the steering controls seems faster. Haven't tried nav yet.

Everyone always assumes you make hybrid buying decision based on fuel economy return on investment but I actually like hybrids better also because the trim levels tend to be nicer (even better value if you buy used low mileage), the torque and the quiet ride characteristics (less engine noise, no noticable gear shift). There's nothing quite like driving along at 40-45 MPH on a warm summer night in the moonlight with the windows rolled down and the car is basically silent except for maybe the music on the stereo. I also like the panoramic roof - typically would have to pay a lot more to get one of those (Jetta Sportwagen, Mercedes?) A tesla would be even nicer, but I think that money is better spent on paying off my mortgage instead. The C-MAX is a good compromise.

Sorry you are having this issue for so long, especially having saved up for the car.

Do you have an "SE" or an "SEL" ? I have a 2013 SEL with technology package and panoramic roof - I have never had a 12V battery issue. Most of the folks I know who report battery issues are on the "SE" ..

Since about 1995 every car I've owned uses A/C in the defrost mode - the idea is that you are using the dehumidifying properties of the A/C - pulling the moisture out of the inside of the cabin. I think most of them have a temperature sensor to be smart enough to not turn on the compressor in freezing weather.

Hybrid cars absolutely use gasoline - the electric power tries to even out the RPMs and supplement the power of a comparitively weak gas engine but it does not replace need for gasoline. Yes, I fill up very frequently in my C-MAX (and Prius before that) but typically each trip to the pump is $15 or less. Use of A/C or heater will cause more energy use. So when driving I typically accelerate briskly to travel speed and then try to coast/brake/genly accelerate in a way that I can anticipate the traffic ahead and try to maintain a consistent travel speed. The Coach display in MyView will help you learn these skills if you are new to driving a hybrid. I always try to remain mindful of the traffic around me, so I won't try to time lights, etc. if there is a lot of traffic behind me because I figure it probably irritates the other drivers. Also, I like the idea of eco-cruise but I find that the net effect is that it makes the car drive in a way that is contrary to good road manners. It inititally slows down going up a hill, which triggers the traffic behind me to pull out and pass, then it speeds up on the incline, which makes it difficult for the traffic to actually pass. For that reason I often only use eco-cruise if there is very light traffic on highway, otherwise will leave cruise off or switch to normal cruise mode. The setting for eco-cruise is in the Settings > Driver Assist menu.

I consistently get 39-40MPG, mostly suburban/back road driving and I don't hesitate off the line..although I do coast and anticipate traffic up ahead once I get up to speed. Brake/Coasting score is usually very good, Accel not so much...it's too much fun to drive and a pet peeve of mine to take forever to get up to speed. The MPG used to flutuate more until I bought "Cinturato P7 All Season Plus" tires - which are supposed to be LRR but I think are "stickier" than the OEM tires. They have been a good tire, with some traction in the winter, etc. but I will probably buy OEM again once these are worn out. The C-MAX SE's at work seem to get anywhere from 37 - 45MPGs - depending on who is driving, how used to hybrids they are and how much of a hurry they are in.

As far as I know the two main issues are the random 12V battery drain on SE's and fuel economy. When Ford first advertised the car they claimed it would get 60MPG - which most people just aren't going to get. They weren't the only vendor to do that - My local Chevy dealership was also claiming that the HHR could get 35MPG .. not happening. Lucky for me where I work we have several of these so I knew the real world MPGs and it's not bad for a crossover, plus the car has a lot of power vs. the Prius V. A few of the SEs at work still have battery problems but I've never had an issue with my SEL. I also like the panoramic roof, technology package and trim on SEL. The Microsoft interface is horribly slow and a little quirky (it's made by Microsoft after all), but somehow still better than a lot of the other in-car touch interfaces that I've seen. The other day I went to start the car to move it - I tried to back up really quickly and the MFT display was dead - completely dead - as though moving that quickly made Sync crash and it had to restart and do "maintenance" .. I used my mirrors instead. Also, for some reason Ford never advertises this car, which I don't get..does it compete too much with the Escape?

I don't mind that the feature is there, but I wish they had the analogue, "Global Express Up" to go with "Global Express Down" .. I have to hold on to the unlock button for at least 5 seconds before it activates. I had to pay the dealer a small fee in order to get them to reprogram the car to turn off the DRLs in my "fleet" issued C-MAX - with that build the headlights were on as long as the vehicle was "ready" no matter what position the dash light controls were in (sort of like a motorcycle headlight). I found this to be really obnoxious when I would idle/park the car someplace at night, so for me it was worth $35 to turn it off and I recognize that their time is worth something. On the plus side, since the service manager knew about it, and knew how to do that I feel that I've found a service location that I can trust with my C-MAX.

I get what you're saying, but in my opinion the (legitimate) cards are expensive enough that if it didn't come with the map card then it didn't come with NAV.. If the dealer promoted that feature when they sold you the car then I would go back to the dealer and ask them to replace the missing card.. (for those who are asking the SD slot is in the center cargo compartment same place the USBs plug into) ..

Never had a 12V battery problem with my SEL (with "keyless"), although Ford still sent me a customer satisfaction program letter/invitation the other day. Thing is, I don't take my vehicle to the dealer on a frequent basis because of the 10K mi oil changes and otherwise been pretty reliable. I still think they are still trying to track down the current drain and seem to have several fixes they can try depending on the variables associated with a particular vehicle.. Among other things the letter suggests that you don't leave a bunch of accessories plugged into the car's 12V and USB outlets. We have several SEs at work and one of them just went dead the other day. The SEs seem to have more of an issue for whatever reason. The vehicles at work don't ever have stuff plugged in, but they do sometimes sit around for a while.

The P7s on page 2 ended up being a fairly good tire, they were decent in the winter time for this area (we only get a few inches of snow at a time here, unlike further North). They slip a tiny bit when you get going but once they bite into the road they are pretty good. The computer routinely shows 39/40MPG on the display. They are supposed to be LRR but I still think they are more "sticky" than the OEM tires and would probably replace with OEM again once these wear out. Proper LRR tires are critical for hybrid performance.